Rodolfo Cucculelli
29 oktober 2004, 23:18
Dear Guitar Aficionados:
I present you a a true Flamenco Blanca Guitar. This instrument was commisioned to me by the Argentine Flamenco Guitarrist and Composer Oscar Varela. In Buenos Aires, by the year 1997 Oscar wanted a true copy of a traditional Spanish guitar, maked following the principles of the antique Spanish guitar making. As he studied with Maestro Pepe Monreal in Buenos Aires, from the instruments of Pepe he choosed the "Viuda y Sobrinos de Domingo Esteso", a superb instrument. You can see the instrument I built:
Flamenco Guitar Photo (Front): http://it.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/rcucculelli/detail?.dir=bc9e&.dnm=b 113.jpg
Back of the Guitar: http://it.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/rcucculelli/detail?.dir=bc9e&.dnm=9 547.jpg
Features about this Esteso design:
Aesthetically free of ornaments, a large soundbox surface, a long string lenght (67,01 cm) combined with a a soft internal top bracing (like Esteso used to do) makes this guitar able to produce a very traditional "jondo" sound, for the "tablao" and for the solo concert.
A very light construction, a very reduced bridge, a soft wood for the neck and a not thick fingerboard, all this elements together to get a good "picado" and a good "rasgueado".
Flamenco Soundboard:
http://it.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/rcucculelli/detail?.dir=bc9e&.dnm=e fe5.jpg
Top: Swiss Pine.
Soundhole: as usual at that time doing the 19 th. fret in two pieces.
Rosette or Boquilla: Traditional Spanish style.
String lenght: 67.01 cm.
Golpeador: http://it.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/rcucculelli/detail?.dir=bc9e&.dnm=2 3c1.jpg
Clear Nylon (originally this guitar had two pieces of Flamed Maple).
Flamenco Bridge: Brazilian Rosewood (Dalbergia Nigra).
Bridge height: 6 mm.
Saddle: Bone.
Strings spacing 1 st. to 6 th.: 59 mm.
Action of the strings over the top at the bridge: 7 mm. 1 st. string, 8 mm. 6 th. string.
Guitar Back:
http://it.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/rcucculelli/detail?.dir=bc9e&.dnm=8 a28.jpg
Instead of Cypress I used a very similar wood from Chile: Manio or Maniu (Podocarpus Neriifolia) with all the caractheristics of Cypress to obtain a clear flamenco sound. Back bookmatched with a single black strip in the middle.
Guitar sides: Maniu. http://it.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/rcucculelli/detail?.dir=bc9e&.dnm=5 504.jpg
Flamenco Guitar Neck: http://it.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/rcucculelli/detail?.dir=bc9e&.dnm=6 ad8.jpg
A soft Cedro provided with a truss rod accesible from the soundhole to control the action of the strings over the frets. A traditional guitar is not built with such neck reinforcement but I do so to be sure that the neck were possible be stable in whatever climatic conditions.
Nut: Bone.
Strings spacing at nut: 45 mm.
Head:
http://it.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/rcucculelli/detail?.dir=bc9e&.dnm=1 4b0.jpg
Originally this guitar had wooden pegs, but later was modified adding a modern tuning machine. As all the peghead was modified I did the same model, wich differs little from an original Esteso peghead.
Fingerboard: Ebony
http://it.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/rcucculelli/detail?.dir=bc9e&.dnm=b 113.jpg
Wide of the fingerboard at nut: 54 mm.
Frets: 19, German Silver, soft material.
Action of the strings over the 12 th. fret: 2,8 mm. / 3 mm.
Heel, Zoque o Tacon: http://it.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/rcucculelli/detail?.dir=bc9e&.dnm=2 a9e.jpg
Original and elegant Esteso design.
Bindings: Indian Rosewood at the corner back sides, with black and white stained strips over the top.
Varnish: Shellac.
I have not a mp3 file of the guitar by now, but I will add to this post in near future.
I hope you liked the guitar.
If you want to ask something no doubt contact me.
My best regards.
Rodolfo Cucculelli Adress:
Via Dante Barbano 20, Cella Monte (15034) Alessandria, Italia.
(0039) 3286444321
http://rodolfocucculelli.8m.com
I present you a a true Flamenco Blanca Guitar. This instrument was commisioned to me by the Argentine Flamenco Guitarrist and Composer Oscar Varela. In Buenos Aires, by the year 1997 Oscar wanted a true copy of a traditional Spanish guitar, maked following the principles of the antique Spanish guitar making. As he studied with Maestro Pepe Monreal in Buenos Aires, from the instruments of Pepe he choosed the "Viuda y Sobrinos de Domingo Esteso", a superb instrument. You can see the instrument I built:
Flamenco Guitar Photo (Front): http://it.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/rcucculelli/detail?.dir=bc9e&.dnm=b 113.jpg
Back of the Guitar: http://it.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/rcucculelli/detail?.dir=bc9e&.dnm=9 547.jpg
Features about this Esteso design:
Aesthetically free of ornaments, a large soundbox surface, a long string lenght (67,01 cm) combined with a a soft internal top bracing (like Esteso used to do) makes this guitar able to produce a very traditional "jondo" sound, for the "tablao" and for the solo concert.
A very light construction, a very reduced bridge, a soft wood for the neck and a not thick fingerboard, all this elements together to get a good "picado" and a good "rasgueado".
Flamenco Soundboard:
http://it.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/rcucculelli/detail?.dir=bc9e&.dnm=e fe5.jpg
Top: Swiss Pine.
Soundhole: as usual at that time doing the 19 th. fret in two pieces.
Rosette or Boquilla: Traditional Spanish style.
String lenght: 67.01 cm.
Golpeador: http://it.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/rcucculelli/detail?.dir=bc9e&.dnm=2 3c1.jpg
Clear Nylon (originally this guitar had two pieces of Flamed Maple).
Flamenco Bridge: Brazilian Rosewood (Dalbergia Nigra).
Bridge height: 6 mm.
Saddle: Bone.
Strings spacing 1 st. to 6 th.: 59 mm.
Action of the strings over the top at the bridge: 7 mm. 1 st. string, 8 mm. 6 th. string.
Guitar Back:
http://it.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/rcucculelli/detail?.dir=bc9e&.dnm=8 a28.jpg
Instead of Cypress I used a very similar wood from Chile: Manio or Maniu (Podocarpus Neriifolia) with all the caractheristics of Cypress to obtain a clear flamenco sound. Back bookmatched with a single black strip in the middle.
Guitar sides: Maniu. http://it.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/rcucculelli/detail?.dir=bc9e&.dnm=5 504.jpg
Flamenco Guitar Neck: http://it.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/rcucculelli/detail?.dir=bc9e&.dnm=6 ad8.jpg
A soft Cedro provided with a truss rod accesible from the soundhole to control the action of the strings over the frets. A traditional guitar is not built with such neck reinforcement but I do so to be sure that the neck were possible be stable in whatever climatic conditions.
Nut: Bone.
Strings spacing at nut: 45 mm.
Head:
http://it.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/rcucculelli/detail?.dir=bc9e&.dnm=1 4b0.jpg
Originally this guitar had wooden pegs, but later was modified adding a modern tuning machine. As all the peghead was modified I did the same model, wich differs little from an original Esteso peghead.
Fingerboard: Ebony
http://it.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/rcucculelli/detail?.dir=bc9e&.dnm=b 113.jpg
Wide of the fingerboard at nut: 54 mm.
Frets: 19, German Silver, soft material.
Action of the strings over the 12 th. fret: 2,8 mm. / 3 mm.
Heel, Zoque o Tacon: http://it.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/rcucculelli/detail?.dir=bc9e&.dnm=2 a9e.jpg
Original and elegant Esteso design.
Bindings: Indian Rosewood at the corner back sides, with black and white stained strips over the top.
Varnish: Shellac.
I have not a mp3 file of the guitar by now, but I will add to this post in near future.
I hope you liked the guitar.
If you want to ask something no doubt contact me.
My best regards.
Rodolfo Cucculelli Adress:
Via Dante Barbano 20, Cella Monte (15034) Alessandria, Italia.
(0039) 3286444321
http://rodolfocucculelli.8m.com